79 comments

• 

  1truepatriot

  9 months ago

  If the Republican voting stance on people displaced due to mortgage foreclosures is taken to its logical conclusion, then those people (from mostly red states) that have been displaced due to Hurricane Ike who now have no house in which to reside would also have to be included in that stance. I am not condoning or endorsing such a decree, just pointing out what the Republicans themselves are purporting.
• 

  zukatesta

  9 months ago

  No, because:
  1. your name would not appear on a foreclosure list if you lost your house to a hurricane
  2. the Michigan GOP can't do anything anywhere other than Michigan
• 

  Brad76

  9 months ago

  Hurrah for Mi Messenger for getting this story out. Where was the rest of the media - chasing Palen and talking about lipstick on pig?
• 

  Rayne1

  9 months ago

  Non-Palin news -- what a novel idea!
  
  Actually, we were fulfilling our mission. We're here to cover the uncovered news, report the underreported, fill the gaps the mainstream media leaves behind. We still believe in the role of the media as the Fourth Estate; we don't exist as a profit-driven entity for this reason.
• 

  HANK4

  9 months ago

  http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/09/michiga...
  
  MI Mssg retracts!!!!
  Read it!
• 

  gericault

  9 months ago

  Harry Truman said," How many times you gotta get hit in the head, before you turn around and see who's hittin' you."
  You vote these crooks into office , lose your house and then your vote to kick them out.
  
  You get what you deserve.
• 

  sickupandfed

  9 months ago

  And to hell with the rights of those who didn't vote for the crooks, huh? I had a Republican friend of mine use the same line of "reasoning" to justify torture the other day. He held that it's justified if it's believed that they may have valuable information. When I asked him "What if the tables are turned and it's your American son in the chair?", his reply was "You knew about it when you signed up." Nevermind those who "signed up" to serve the US when it didn't torture. Forget the absurdity of claiming to stay on a false high ground with a response like that.
  
  Arrogance like this can only come from ignorance. If it was you being foreclosed upon and having your civil right to vote violated, that'd sure be humbling, wouldn't it? You wouldn't be so quick to look down your haughty nose then. What about what's right for you and everybody else? Two choices: Be glad it's not you and shut the hell up, or call them out. I suggest you choose the former. You obviously don't give a damn about the latter.
• 

  nogop4me

  9 months ago

  Hey, if he's for torture, then stop crying about McNuts and his POW time served. Knowing his temper, he probably made it harder on himself and his captive "buddies"!
• 

  gericault

  9 months ago

  This would only apply to you if you had voted Republican in 2000/ 2004 or
  plan to vote republican now. I'm a democrat. I support Obama.If you are a
  republican who has lost his job, house, pension, healthcare or ,god forbid,
  a son or daughter and still support McCain because Sarah Palin is for
  abortion, then yeah.you deserve it
  
  
  .----- Original Message -----
• 

  peace1970

  9 months ago

  This is so typical of the right wing radicals....not this time....good job getting this story out, everyone needs to hear about this...the lies....the awful cheating....same old, same old...
  Obama/Biden
• 

  Detroit

  9 months ago

  The Democrats need to take their gloves off and fist fight McCain McPain and Karl Rove and the Nazi right. This is beyond bullshit. I am old school Detroit. It's time to literally kick their damn Republican asses in the streets. Even Thomas Jefferson said a little revolution is good once in a while. It is a fact that Dems are more informed, more fiscally responsible, more caring about their fellow men and women and more educated. We cannot be idle and let another take over like what happened to Kerry and Gore. Get off the couch and out of the house and tell everyone to vote for Barack and Biden. I can't believe there would be one single person in Detroit or Flint who would vote for McFeign and Dumb-bot Barbie. Viva le revolucion!
• 

  phillygirl

  9 months ago

  Michigan Messenger, I love you. Thank you so much for committing journalism.
• 

  Soccermama4Obama

  9 months ago

  GO, OBAMA CAMP. GO!!! Please hit hard on this despicable tactic, get it firmly into the news, and get back to equal pay for women, energy, banking, employment, education, healthcare, pro-choice - the ISSUES! McCain/Palin = unstable/unable. They wold be utterly dangerous if they were to lead this country, and we know they can't even lead on the issues! Take it and go for it with everything you can, Obama Camp! Ladies, speak up and let your voice be heard too - Palin does NOT speak for us all.
• 

  judette

  9 months ago

  If the repugs don't care about the condition of the country in general and consistently vote against themselves, why would they care if they are disenfranchised by illegal purging due to foreclosures, even when it involves them? I only wish I could answer that question. May I add...the repugs are also sending out fake ballots to Obama supporters with bogus return addresses on them. They have sent out something like 100,000 already. On top of that Virginia repugs are trying to scare college students, by telling them they can't use their dorm addresses when they register and that if they register they will lose their scholarships and won't be able to be claimed on their parents tax returns, so naturally some students believe them and changed their minds about registering to vote. I only hope they hear the truth from someone asap, and they arrange for mass transportation to their polling places. The whole thing is a big fat lie per the usual repulsive republican tactics. Other repugs are sending out flyers, something like 300,000, stating the Obama is the Anti-Christ. In my research I've learned that the Anti-Christ's name will begin with an "M" in case anyone's interested.. In one state 750 democratic voters have been purged from the list in one county alone. Now, don't take my word for it. Do some checking yourself, but I'm sure they are doing as many things as they can come up with to try to steal Obama's votes. Why not? It worked when they wanted Bush in there. For proof, check out Clinton Curtis. He testified to a committee that he was one of the people that threw the votes to Bush in 2004. Just type in Clinton Curtis in your search engine. You will get a link for election hacking Ohio 2004. I just pray there are as many computer experts on dems side this time, in every precinct possible, to monitor, the race and reverse any vote switching that is done. Go to blackboxvoting.com for verification of voter fraud if you dare. I hope the information keeps coming out and people start to realize how deceitful the GOP really is.
• 

  IheartNYC

  9 months ago

  It's about time they sued these guys for something, they break laws like breathing. Let the emails roll!
  
  Next, he should sue that freak who wrote a book full of lies about him.
• 

  imamom2

  9 months ago

  Thanks to Eartha Jane Melzer, the reporter who broke the original story on this scandal that I have yet to see picked up nationally. Bravo to the reporters at the Messenger that are living up to the public trust and actually INVESTIGATING instead of passing along opinions and rumors as news. I am grateful that the Obama campaign is hitting back in Michigan. I hope they will follow suit in other states like Ohio. Pass the original story on to your local newspaper editors so that voters nationwide can be forewarned!
• 

  ebrayton

  9 months ago

  Actually, this story has been all over the national media. But yes, Eartha deserves every ounce of the credit. She's really an exceptional reporter.
• 

  Coast2Coast

  9 months ago

  I don't get it... so because they had their houses foreclosed upon and are voting within the 60 days of eviction, are those people being blocked from voting. How did McCain even get mentioned in this article? Is everyone for everyone voting? What if they had thier house foreclosed upon in August or even earlier, that would clearly violate the law if they voted from that resident. Does Obama feel that everyone should vote or is this only filed in Michigan because it's a swing state? Hurricane victims still own their houses, foreclosure means you don't own property there anymore, it's too bad.
• 

  zukatesta

  9 months ago

  Let me explain it as I read it: The Michigan Messenger has confirmed that the GOP plans on using lists of addresses of foreclosed homes to prevent people from voting, if the address they claim is on their list. This is illegal.
  
  There are other similar reports coming from Ohio that the GOP may do this there as well.
  
  The Democratic National Committee has filed in Michigan because they have evidence of the illegal tactics in Michigan.
  
  Texas would be irrelevant, primarily because there is no evidence in Texas, but also because those people were displaced by hurricane, not foreclosure.
• 

  ItsAllSoSurreal

  9 months ago

  From the article:
  
  "First, because getting a foreclosure notice is not evidence that the person’s address has changed. In Michigan, homeowners have the opportunity to redeem the foreclosure even after a sheriff’s sale has occurred, which means they can stay in the home for many months after a foreclosure notice has been sent. Second, because under Michigan law a person can vote at their old precinct if they lost their home within 60 days of the election."
  
  Repeat: "getting a foreclosure notice is not evidence that a person's address has changed."
  
  And no one has to own property to be able to vote. One must simply have an address in the precinct in which one is voting.
• 

  MChris1947

  9 months ago

  McCain got mentioned because HIS Party is at the heart of this cruel, twisted attempt to disenfranchise voters who may not be part of his base.
  
  A foreclosure notice is the beginning of that process not the end, so receiving such a notice, or appearing on a list of people who have, doesn't mean you don't live there. And the attempt to use such a list in this manner is absurd. It puts the burden on the voter to prove they still live at a particular address, or risk loosing their right to vote. And as a practical matter, it creates chaos at the polling location, as voters are put through a modern-day version of a property test in order to cast their ballots.
  
  The point of the curent law is to prevent people from voting who shouldn't be, because they live outside the voting precinct. A typical example is someone moving to a new precinct, re-registering to vote, and then showing up in both places on election day to vote twice. But the GOP is trying to apply that logic to people who are not trying to stuff ballot boxes at all. By insinuating that everyone on a list (especially a list not created or controlled by the local registrar of voters), opens up the process to gross manipulation.
• 

  nogop4me

  9 months ago

  I am an Obama fan/supporter, and have been since his speech at the DNC in 2004. I am also a lifetme resident of Michigan. As a white grandmother and retired nurse, this article was repugnant and the lowest any politicaI could go. Somehow I found the Michigan Messenger article, perhaps by "divine intervention", and e-mailed the link to hundreds of newspapers, news stations, internet blogs and Democratic executives in every swing state.
  I am so happy that the O/B campaign heads are taking action on the Repukes and their plans.
• 

  marm

  9 months ago

  I, too, am a white grandmother, and I said after Obama's speech at the DNC in 2004 that he should be the candidate then. He's a breath of fresh air in the fetid miasma of politics as usual.
• 

  sherrybb

  9 months ago

  If you can't win it the right way, do whatever it takes to cheat, steal, anything as long as they get what they want.So what else is new about the GOP?
• 

  Marcia Baracaldo

  9 months ago

  Wasn't OBAMA who supported Freddy and Fannie when the real states was blooming??????
  
  Wasn't the congress Democrat??????
  
  Obama should also blame himself for all this faillures.
  
  Nancy Pelosy MUST STOP down as well
• 

  MamaMo

  9 months ago

  I am so sick and tired of hearing this tired argument that, hey, its been a democratic congress. You can't get anything done if the Repubicans filibuster EVERY thing you do. The last two year record for filibusters was 57. (Most have 1 or 2) This congress Republicans have 78!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember when the Democracs tried to filibuster ONE thing when the Republicans were in charge and the Republicans went so ballistic they almost changed the law they you could not filibuster anymore. Bet they are glad they didn't do that! The Republicans had no choice but to stop everything the the Dems tried in order to say at this election that we have a "do nothing: congress and the Dems are in charge. What the hell else does this failed administration and Republicans have?
• 

  rkw

  9 months ago

  LIES, LIES AND DAMN LIES! I guess this is what the DEMS have to resort to. ANOTHER distortion of the facts. Figures. Can't trust MSM to get it right (truth).
• 

  ebrayton

  9 months ago

  And we notice that you didn't bother to document any lies at all in the piece. Go figure.
• 

  nogop4me

  9 months ago

  Mrs Baracaldo
  TRY WATCHING SOME OTHER NEWS CAST THAN FOX-FIXED NEWS! Fox is the only news? cast that does not acknowledge that what has been said here and in this article is the truth.
  Get a grip!
• 

  stryker

  9 months ago

  rkw, want to tell us just what democratic lies you are referring to? Haven't seen any on this article or the comments following. It's just the usual repub tactics, figuring that those who have gotten foreclosures must be loer class, inner-city people who would probably vote for Obama. I am sure that before they challenge anyone's vote, they'll check the voter lists to see who is registered "R" and who is a "D." Then they'll try to get the Ds removed. Bet on it.
• 

  agirlcreative

  9 months ago

  What more of us who are really concerned about this need to do is be there at the precincts with laws (or lawyers, even better) to keep an eye on them. If we can catch them and stop them then, it's a WHOLE lot easier than afterwards. We certainly don't want another court deciding who our next president is, as history shows it isn't turning out too well.
  
  So volunteer and keep an eye out for those who may not know about this kind of thing!
• 

  Rayne1

  9 months ago

  Yes, we need poll watchers -- people who are simply committed to the notion that every citizen has a right to vote and are willing to invest time in this concept and in our democracy.
• 

  molly1111

  9 months ago

  Thank you so much for printing the story and telling the truth. You are a credit to the media.
  Stand firm. "The truth will set you free."
• 

  zDeg

  9 months ago

  Mrs Baracaldo....are you serious or just amazingly stupid? The Democrats have held a SLIM majority for the past 2 years. The mortgage meltdown has been developing for OVER 2 years and was mainly brought about by McCain's main man, Phil Gramm, who DEREGULATED all the oversight agencies. Also, the Democrats have been FILIBUSTERED by the republicans more times than in the entire HISTORY of the Congress. Actually, the meltdown in the mortgage industry, on Wall street, in all the financial institutions was begun by St Ronald Reagan. I'll support forever your right to an opinion, as stupid and illogical as it is, but could you PLEASE take the time to READ? Thinking would clearly be too much to ask!
  Sorry to be so rude, but the stupid and the ill-informed have gotten us into this mess by voting republican when anyone with 2 brain cells could see they were lying. I for one am sick of your self-righteous arrogant ignorance....and I will tell you to your face because YOU are destroying what is left of a once great nation.
• 

  1sallygoodtimes

  9 months ago

  Right on zDeg! Mrs Baracaldo cannot spell or form a coherent sentence. Instead of a poll tax.......
• 

  Rayne1

  9 months ago

  Tempting, but I know an awful lot of highly educated people who can't spell or write well. But they're usually in technical fields where they excel and not in fields where they need to use words to promote an idea.
  
  Mrs_Baracaldo, however, needs to be more effective in her complaints and questions if she's trying to make a point (she's spam-trolled the site so we have a good idea what she's really getting at).
• 

  Dee3

  9 months ago

  It is true. A students residence is their parents home. They are counted finanacially and tax wise as part of their parents finances. A student's scholarship eligibility is determined by their parents financial status. In order for a student to register to vote in another city they must establish an independent residence in the city, and live and work for at least a year in that city while they were not a student. That's how schools determine in state and out state tuition eligibillity.
  
  Students should be able to get an absentee ballot from their home city/state if this is not the first time they are voting. If a student is voting for the first time and wants to vote absentee, they will have to appear in person at their home town clerk's office and show ID in order to get an application for an absentee ballot. This is the law.
  
  We've been working to register voters for Obama and most of the students we know, who live in state are going to go home on election day in order to vote.
• 

  freespiritbty

  9 months ago

  MARVELOUS!! MM thanks for passing this story along and bringing the GOP into light
• 

  Trumanbaby

  9 months ago

  You are not getting it..Getting a foreclosure notice doesn't mean you have to get out immediately! There is a legal process in every state, some different, but most give you "X" amount of time to make the debt good. Even after the Trustee's sale, you have time before leaving. The point is, any number of arrangements could be made to postpone or cancel out the action after that notice, and the GOP mafioso has no right whatsoever to challenge someone 60 days or less..or more..as to their not being eligible to vote from that address!
  
  Once again..garbage like this hoax ..lawsuits to squash the Caribou Barbie investigation in Alaska..fake absentee ballots sent out in WI and FL..the crooks and criminals at the GOP have no other way to win on the merits of their platform..it's full of termites..so they lie, Lie, and LIEEEEE some more! That's all they have been doing for months now..and it gets worse and wierder the longer it goes on! THE GOP LIES!! Any one who votes for these cheap thugs is a fool and an idiot. I have no patience with them and nothing but disgust for their stupidity!
• 

  Eclectablog

  9 months ago

  Well done, Michigan Messenger. Thank you from the bottom of my Michigander heart.
• 

  Rayne1

  9 months ago

  Thank you for your readership, we appreciate the support.
• 

  HANK4

  9 months ago

  http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/09/michiga...
  
  MI MSSG RETRACTS-READ IT!
• 

  manitoumackinac

  9 months ago

  Hey Everyone... This is very serious news..
  
  Please forward this article, and Digg this up to let people know about it.
  It's important that people know that this is going on.
• 

  Rayne1

  9 months ago

  Thank you for helping to promote this article; we feel it's important for voters to educate themselves to make intelligent decisions at the polls.
• 

  LeftCoastOracle

  9 months ago

  There is no limit to what Republicans will do to win! They are unprincipled and completely without moral character. They have no honor! They are scumbags! What else can I say? Oh, John McCain and Sarah Palin are Republicans.
  
  Remember, McCain-Palin: A Bridge to Nowhere!
• 

  nogop4me

  9 months ago

  I read this article when it first came out, and quickly forwarded to hundreds of newspapers, tv news media, both local and national, the DNC and Obama's campaign headquarters here in Michigan. Now I am in the process of forwarding it to other swing state newspapers, suggesting they get on board and rally against the Repukes in their states. I don't take credit for any of the new actions, but I'm glad I did what I could.
  Everyone who comments here should do what they can to get the word out!
  When evil is in the limelight, God will handle the details! ;)
• 

  MadinMichigan

  9 months ago

  The most insidious thing about this story is that the republicans are actually teaming up with their friends in the banking industry to speed up and increase the number of foreclosures in targeted districts. They are feverishly working to kick people out of their homes and on to the streets where they won't have an address.
  
  Its the same tactic the republican right in the South are eager to use against women who get an abortion. They will be branded criminals and their voting rights permanently revoked.
  
  They realize there just aren't enough republicans any more, so they need to be much more active at insuring that others can not be permitted to vote. Their push toward making voter registration cards very hard to get is all part of a much more sinister national program.
• 

  lkellar55

  9 months ago

  I wish I didn't agree with you.
• 

  sch3839

  9 months ago

  They are at it again.I thought that Mc Cain is supposed to be a patriot...some joke.If this is allowed to happen we are really finished as a nation.How can we gain any respect from 3rd world countries by this example of fair voting practices?We are better than this.
  If the people vote for this Party after this,they deserve what they get.Shame on you...trying to resort to such a tactic.
• 

  marm

  9 months ago

  Just when you think the Republicans have sunk as low as it's possible to get, they manage to find another level beneath that. No wonder their mantra is "Drill, baby, drill!" Down is the only direction they understand. Unfortunately, when they get all the way to hell, they'll be taking the rest of us with them.
• 

  justjohn123

  9 months ago

  I can not see why this is such a big deal. If a person still resides in their home and has not provided the post office with a change of address form, the letter will be delivered and there will be no issue. A foreclosure notice does not change your address.
  
  It's simple, you live at an address or you don't. If you do, then there is no reason why you shouldn't receive your notice and be allowed to vote in the correct precinct. If your notice is returned, it means you need to reregister in the correct precinct and you can vote.
  
  You do want this to be a fair election either way it's decided right?
• 

  trood

  9 months ago

  Yes, thanks, I do want a fair election. One in which lower-income people do not have to jump through extra hoops to exercise their right to vote that others don't. A level playing field, in other words, not one in which lower-income people who might be behind on their mortgage have to hope that the USPS correctly delivers every single piece of mail on time or their vote will be taken away.
• 

  justjohn123

  9 months ago

  It doesn't have to be delivered on time. It only has to be delivered and not returned to the sender.
  
  I wasn't aware that only lower income families were facing foreclosure. Your argument is thin. If these people were allowed to vote and it didn't go your way I believe it highly likely that you might be asking for thier votes not to count.
• 

  RobBob

  9 months ago

  The *vast* majority of foreclosures are on homes held by lower-income families, who disproportionately vote Democratic. It's quite obvious. The Republicans aren't on some crusade to root out voter fraud. They are trying to thin *Democratic* voter rolls.
• 

  justjohn123

  9 months ago

  Wouldn't it be voter fraud if a person voted in a pricinct that he/she did not live in?
• 

  j4kp07

  9 months ago

  lol...your so full of hate. and judgment too I'm sure.
• 

  addicuss

  9 months ago

  ugh
• 

  manitoumackinac

  9 months ago

  People do that all the time. It's called an Absentee ballot. It's voter fraud if a person votes twice or if votes were fabricated or dismissed. Members of the Armed forces do absentee ballots this all the time, even if they haven't set foot in their home state for many years. People who have many residences, like summer and winter homes, wealthy individuals with many homes and even members of congress do this.
  
  Residence is a somewhat arbitrary concept when it comes to voting. As long as they don't vote twice, like in two different states, then whats the real harm?
• 

  RobBob

  9 months ago

  The story states the the Republicans are intending to use the foreclosure lists themselves to challenge voters.
• 

  manitoumackinac

  9 months ago

  Please re-read the article. This is being done for a reason, a political ploy. Pay special attention to this statement
  
  "Second, because under Michigan law a person can vote at their old precinct if they lost their home within 60 days of the election."
  
  There is a very legitimate reason that Michigan has that law. They want to do what they can to make sure someone has a right to vote, and they are aware that times can be tough.
  
  If a piece of mail gets returned to a campaign hub, this does not necessarily mean that the person at the address does not have a right to vote because they don't reside there anymore.
  
  If the final vote does not come out in the favor if a particular political party, (especially if it's a close election in Michigan) then the losing party will use this as "evidence" that some type of "fraud" has been committed and play it out in the court of public opinion, where the the facts will be distorted and spun, where informed rational discourse rarely occurs.
  I'm sure that the Michigan law won't get mentioned much.
  
  
  It can be assumed from this article that the GOP is anticipating that the count in Michigan will be close.
  
  And as a side note, there are privacy issues to be concerned as well. A political party is not a government entity, it's a private organization. Keep that in mind.
• 

  justjohn123

  9 months ago

  Please don't act like both parties aren't looking for every possible avenue to secure this election. Do you think Obama is suing for your rights? He wouldn't care at all (and neither would the GOP for that matter) if those votes weren't statistically in his favor.
• 

  manitoumackinac

  9 months ago

  I personally condemn any of these practices regardless of the party involved. I'm not naieve enough to think that this doesn't happen the other way with the democrats. In this case it appears that the GOP got caught with it's hand in the cookie jar.
  
  Some principals transcend party affiliation, the right to vote should be a very sensitive issue for everyone. It's very wise to have the mindset that it's always going to be under attack, and not dismiss anything.
• 

  lkellar55

  9 months ago

  John I think you've missed the point that they will disqualify voters who use the address listed in their foreclosure records whether or not the resident is still in the home. Luckily the law seems still to be on the side of the people and this plan will not work.
  
  But this does make the trargetted foreclosure scheme look even more like it was orchestrated with this in mind.
• 

  justjohn123

  9 months ago

  I think I got the point. They mail a do not forward letter to the foreclosed residence. If it is returned, then the adress is disqualified. However, they still have a 60 day grace period.
  
  Did I miss anything?
• 

  j4kp07

  9 months ago

  justjohn123...you've missed several points and the BIG picture. 1) the mailings are marked "do not forward" (this shows an intention of not wanting to actually contact the resident with further instructions to assist them...how's that for morals and integrity). 2) the Michigan law provides for a 60-day "buffer"
  
  and the BIG picture...any non-biased person would agree that this unfairly targets the lower/middle class and I would even be willing to bet a week's paycheck that the letters also target a certain demographic within certain districts.
  
  also...the assertion here is to protect against voter fraud. so does this tactic help ( (i.e. prevent double voting) or does it hender (i.e. blacklist legitimate voters).
• 

  justjohn123

  9 months ago

  You nailed the question on the head. Who does it help or hinder? I'm sure somebody from the GOP would be crying about this if the tables were turned. I'm sure it's no mystery to you that I am a conservative but you believe that I have some sort of bias or hate. It's not that at all. If this practice is deemed wrong then let them fry for their actions.
  
  In reality, I'm not sure I want to trust the decision on leadership of this country to someone who didn't understand that an adjustable rate mortgage was a bad idea. I'm not excusing the banks but each of these people has to take a certain amount of responsibility for their actions.
  
  You are right this probably does target one demographic over another. The Michigan law states that they are allowed to vote in the existing precinct for 60 days after they leave. Doesn't that make this a non issue? If they were still in their home on the fourth of September, then they can vote where they were.
  
  Please don't assume I am full of hate and judgment.
• 

  stinkysmom

  9 months ago

  this unAmerican tactic is nothing BUT biased and hatefull.
  are we to just hand this country over to the rich white man? anyone actually BEEN to this neighborhood? this is robbing human beings of the homes they live in WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND YES THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN and then it strips them of their ability to change a system that has failed them.
  
  and as far as "letting them fry"? what do you mean? in HELL? yeah, that sounds great, but what will that do for our contry in the mean time?
  
  and justjohn, i respect that you're trying to view this from both sides. you're giving it a good shot so kudos to you. i myself have been a conservative republican since 1984, but 5 years ago i decided to let go of the bias and REALLY view it from all angles.... i became a better person.
  
  and lets face it kids, if Barack Obama was a white man?... he'd be 20 points ahead in the polls.
  and THAT'S what's WRONG with this country.
• 

  its4marsha

  9 months ago

  If your are telling the truth, for the people and believe in the people...why is there a need to scheme and hustle to win? It is so unbelievable that the Reepers are willing to cheat and lie and say it is for the good of the people. I think if you are in a foreclosure situation in any state, you might want to know the rules. You have time to get it strainght...mosts states have a deadline of October 6, 2008. Let all stay in formed!
• 

  addicuss

  9 months ago

  justjohn youre a typical republican. It frightens me the way you react and respond to this. and it saddens me that its so common in republicans (and in americans). facts can be shoved down your throat all day and night and you will either refuse to believe them or even acknowledge them.
  
  Facts of the story are very cut and dry. In michigan you can lose your home and still vote from your OLD precinct for 60 days. In michigan you can reside at your home even after foreclosure. Republicans mailed letters out in an attempt to challenge voters who were foreclosed on. There are very few reasons to do this as there are other measures in place to stop voter fraud.
  
  Your first argument was that this is a valid noble tactic to stop voter fraud.There are very few reasons to do this as there are other measures in place to stop voter fraud. But lets believe for a minute that the gop is really doing this to stop voter fraud. why target voters who were foreclosed on? and is it not suspicious to you in the slightest that these people are also likely democrats (not to mention poor). No matter what party you are this is something you should be angry about.
  
  your next trick is implying that Democrats would stoop as low as republicans to win an election. True or not does this really justify the tactic? What difference does this make. If I stab someone to death does it make me less wrong than the guy that shot someone to death?
  
  Then you dismissively say you shouldnt vote in a precinct you dont live in. which has been pointed out several times is perfectly legal for 60 days
  
  Well then you imply that this wouldn't even affect democrats more than republicans by saying we're acting like only low income democrats get foreclosed on (completely irrelevant.. not to mention the fact you directly contradicted yourself in saying "Do you think Obama is suing for your rights? He wouldn't care at all (and neither would the GOP for that matter) if those votes weren't statistically in his favor.")
  
  
  well when thats shot down you go back to "Wouldn't it be voter fraud if a person voted in a pricinct that he/she did not live in" which for the last time.. IS NOT TRUE FOR 60 DAYS IT IS ONLY FRAUD IF THEY VOTE IN TWO PRECINCTS.
  
  I have no doubt if this were a story about democrats disenfranchising republicans you would be parading around here shouting that obama is just more of the same.
  
  It boggles me. Youre arguing nothing. Youre arguing it with nothing. You imply but never name your points. after all its much more convenient to imply something and have people make their own conclusions, conclusions that most americans dont bother to fact check because the implication is so sly its almost like youre outright SAYING something. Dont say obama is a muslim, but imply it every chance you get, dont say that obama is a terrorist but imply terrorists are often muslims and let people make the logical fallacy that the reverse is true. imply imply imply. Obscure facts. Point to the other guy. but whatever you do NEVER, NEVER EVER look at the issue, and address the facts of the issue. Its the republican way.
• 

  justjohn123

  9 months ago

  This whole article is about nothing. If a person can still vote in their precinct for 60 days, then as of the 4th of this moth the letter really becomes useless right.
  
  I have no doubt that either party would stoop as low as they could to win the election. In the end we vote someone in to office but we are the only ones who loose.
  
  I understand your point about inplied facts. I see them spread on every news station everyday. I wish we could get beyond all of the silly he said-she said / he did-she did manuvering and get to the point of this election. Which one of these jokers is actually going to do something positive for this country?
  
  The media and the parties want the public mired in the crap so that we don't have time to really look at the facts. The facts are that both of these guys have some good things they want to do but they also have some (my opinion) very bad ideas for this country. I may be a conservative but I can't say that McCain has really done anything to earn my vote.
• 

  HANK4

  9 months ago

  http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/09/michiga...
  
  MI MSSG RETRACTS-READ IT!!
  
  I BET YOU WILL NOT APOLOGIZE BUT WILL WIGGLE ALONG WITH "THE ONE"!
  
  SOCIALISM IS COMING. WRIGHT/PFLAGER/REZKO/AYERS/DORNE SLEEPING IN THE WHITE HOUSE??
• 

  Rayne1

  9 months ago

  Hank4: this is the official statement of this site:
  
  http://michiganmessenger.com/4313/messenger-rej...
  
  You read it: "Messenger rejects GOP plea for retraction."
  
  Neither Michigan Messenger nor its parent organization, the Center for Independent Media, have received a formal request for retraction from the MIGOP, RNC, or James Carabelli as of today.
  
  If you are unable to type in mixed case, please use lower case instead of upper case as upper case denotes shouting. If you are indeed shouting, this is not in compliance with our site's comment policy; future shouting risks being deleted without notice.
• 

  HANK4

  9 months ago

  Rayne1
  It seems that most of my post got lost in the ether. I try again.
  HANK4
  
  
  Rayne1
  > You read it: "Messenger rejects GOP plea for retraction."
  >
  > Neither Michigan Messenger nor its parent organization, the Center for Independent Media, have received a formal request for retraction from the MIGOP, RNC, or James Carabelli as of today.
  >
  >
  >
  I note that your link is dated 9/12/08 and only refers to one of two issues in my link. My link and the below article from your site, I believe, addresses the first issue which was retracted by Michigan Messenger's parent and are dated a week later.
  Further, your article providing the credentials of your reporter and her long history of unbiased professionalism seems overtaken by the articles she has written as seen on your home page and the fact that she got at least half of the foreclosure caging apparently wrong.
  
  Messenger clarifies Ohio official’s remark
  By Jefferson Morley 9/19/08 5:48 PM
  
  Michigan Messenger received a letter yesterday from Douglas J. Preisse, chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party in Columbus Ohio, disputing Eartha Melzer’s summary of remarks he made to a local newspaper about voter challenges.
  Citing an article in the Columbus Dispatch, Melzer had reported in her story “Lose your house, lose your vote” that Priesse [...]
  
  Why could I not get this whole article on your web site?
  
  Don't you think that you should update your bloggers on your parent companies position?
  > If you are unable to type in mixed case, please use lower case instead of upper case as upper case denotes shouting. If you are indeed shouting, this is not in compliance with our site's comment policy; future shouting risks being deleted without notice.
  
  I apologize for the caps as I thought it was acceptable as seen in other posts to this thread.
  I assume that you corrected those posters as well.
  
  HANK4
• 

  HANK4

  9 months ago

  No virus found in this outgoing message.
  Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
  Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.7.1/1686 - Release Date: 9/23/2008 7:38 AM
• 

  sunshine55

  9 months ago

  I would like to flood Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Secretary of State, Republican Terri Lynn Land's offices with letters of concern and protest against the proposed caging practices directed at Michigan residents that have lost thier homes due to foreclosure.
  
  To Join the cause, your letters can be sent to:
  Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
  P.O. Box 30013
  Lansing, Michigan 48909
  PHONE: (517) 373-3400
  PHONE: (517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services
  and
  SE Michigan Office
  3022 W. Grand Blvd.
  Cadillac Place, Suite 14-150
  Detroit, MI 48202
  (313) 456-0010
  
  Michigan Secretary of State, Republican Terri Lynn
  Info@terrilynnland.com
  
  
  Example letter:
  
  Dr. Ms Granholm/ Land,
  I am a registered Michigan voter and am opposed to the caging practices proposed against Michigan voters that have lost homes due to foreclosure. You must stop this unacceptable practice now.
  
  Thank you,
  (Your name and address)
• 

  TheBlackEuropean

  9 months ago

  This is a new low. I don't have the words, I'm speechless. What, are we back in the 19th century? Dickensian England? These tactics come right out of Stalinist Russia or Hitler Germany! Wait, let me get this straight:
  First, the Repukes promote a Wild West housing market, giving everyone a loan who made minimum wage.
  Second, now that these Repuke policies have killed a 150 year old respectable Jewish monument, they not only wanna kick those people out of their own homes, but wanna take away their voting rights TOO?
  Un EFFING believable!!!
• 

  alscheck

  9 months ago

  This is the most disgusting thing I've seen yet. I live in Florida so it just comes home as to the 2000 and 2004 elections where we were cheated. Disgusting. I hope Obama can get it stopped. The Republicans will do ANYTHING to win, since they can't win by the vote of the people.
• 

  alscheck

  9 months ago

  I can't help but comment again as a reminder of what they did in the south to keep black voters away from the poles. What in God's name will the republicanas try next. God help us.
• 

  abbey

  9 months ago

  Well, it makes sense. To ensure the kind of voters this country needs we must look to property owners, people with sound financial management skills - and by the way whatever happened to the idea of introducing a poll tax? Or only allowing people with an income above $250,000, or disqualifying women... That should knock off any number of undesireable voters and if it's run correctly, this scheme could be designed to eliminate any number of Obama supporters.
  Sarcasam asice, I was so sure that this would be the Democrats' year - but the closeness of the polls challenge this! Why are people so quick to accept this blatent attack on democracy?